For many years, Rwanda had the dubious distinction of never having won a single game in a FIFA World Cup™ qualifying competition. But that did not prevent Rwandan football fans from being hopeful after being drawn to play against Namibia. After all, the country had also never qualified for the finals of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations either before 2002, when they sensationally knocked out regional powers Ghana in the qualifiers.

The development of the sport had become a priority in the country and the Serbian coach at the time, Ratomir Dujkovic, first took the side into the finals of the Cup of Nations before reaching the second round of qualifiers for Germany 2006 after knocking out Namibia 4-1 on aggregate.

Their success at the 2004 edition of the Cup of Nations, drawing with Guinea and beating Congo DR - boded well, but Dujkovic left to coach Ghana.

In the group phase of the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Rwanda ended the campaign with just one win, two draws and seven losses. They have since gone through four coaches in their bid to find the right formula for the South Africa 2010 qualifiers. Rwanda's new coach is the Croatian Branko Tucak, who has the tough task of taking charge of group matches against Ethiopia, Mauritania and Morocco.